(AP) — An 11-month-old boy has died after apparently falling into a septic tank in an unincorporated community in Alabama’s Calhoun County. The accident happened about 7 p.m. Wednesday at a home in Alexandria, al.com reported. Sheriff Matthew Wade said the boy’s father had gone to a friend’s home to work on a car.
What happens if you fall in septic tank?
Falling into a septic tank or cesspool is likely to lead to rapid asphyxiation from methane and in cases of collapse, there is risk of becoming buried.
What causes a septic tank to explode?
The most common reason that septic tanks explode is the methane gas. The organic matter that ends up in your septic tank breaks down, as it should. Another reason they may explode is improper ventilation which causes the methane gas to reach levels that are too high and unsafe which could result in an explosion.
Can a septic tank explode?
A septic tank can explode Septic tank explosions are extremely rare so it might sound farfetched but yes, a septic tank can actually explode. Methane gas is usually produced as a by-product during anaerobic digestion of organic waste in the septic tank. This gas is highly flammable.
Can you get sick from a septic tank?
The fumes that waft out of a failing septic tank and into your home can carry airborne bacteria. These pathogens can make your family ill by triggering sinus infections and other respiratory illnesses when breathed in on a regular basis.
What is inside a septic tank?
The septic tank is a buried, water-tight container usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Its job is to hold the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle down to the bottom forming sludge, while the oil and grease floats to the top as scum.
Are septic tanks safe?
Never work alone in or around a septic tank. Don’t ignite flames or smoke cigarettes at or near the tank. This can cause an explosion. Be sure that the tank and its access ports have sound and secure covers that do not risk collapse and which cannot be removed or nudged aside by children or animals.
Is a septic tank combustible?
First, you should know that septic tanks have large amounts of methane gas built up inside of them. Methane is a natural byproduct of anaerobic digestion, which is the process that breaks down organic solids in the septic tank. Gases burned to generate electricity are often methane, which means it’s highly combustible.
Can a sewer explode?
fire or explosion. Methane and hydrogen sulfide are explosive components of sewer gas. Vapors from improperly disposed fuel can further increase the risk of fire or explosion; and. odor.
What is the average life of a septic system?
Age of the System It’s pretty common for a septic system to last 40 years or longer, which means if you buy a new home, you might never need to replace it. However, you might have an older home whose septic system has been in place for nearly half a century.
Why does it smell like septic in my house?
A septic odor in your home usually means there’s a plumbing problem, but not all issues require calling a plumber. The floor drain trap in your basement could be dried out, allowing septic tank gases to vent back into your house. Periodically filling the drain traps with water will correct the problem.
Do septic tanks give off methane?
Methane gas is naturally produced by septic sludge while nitrate is a byproduct of a failing septic system. These fumes can be released back into your home through toilets, pipes, and drains, putting your family in serious danger.
Can heavy rain affect septic tank?
It is common to have a septic back up after or even during a heavy rain. Significant rainfall can quickly flood the ground around the soil absorption area (drainfield) leaving it saturated, making it impossible for water to flow out of your septic system.
Does mold grow in septic tank?
Septic tank fumes often carry airborne bacteria as well. A failing septic system can also send mold spores back into your home, which is problematic for people with asthma and mold allergies.
Does shower water go into septic tank?
From your house to the tank: Most, but not all, septic systems operate via gravity to the septic tank. Each time a toilet is flushed, water is turned on or you take a shower, the water and waste flows via gravity through the plumbing system in your house and ends up in the septic tank.
Toddler Deaths From Falling Into Septic Systems
As a result, we may conceive of it as a tragedy produced in our minds and then brought to life on the big screen. However, this calamity is not a satirical film parody. The truth of toddler fatalities caused by septic systems is supported by the data. A simple Google search exposes tale after story of families who have suffered great loss and pain as a result of the property system in place.
TODDLER DEATHS FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS
Two-year-old kid died in a septic tank in Skagit County, Washington, in April 2015 after slipping into the tank by accident. According to a neighbor, “the mom turned her back and then she didn’t see her child, so she was asking everyone on the block to check for her child.” The result was harrowing. Other examples include the death of a one-year-old Florida kid in August 2015 after slipping into a sewage tank outside of an Ocala apartment complex, which was reported in August 2015. Drowning was determined to be the cause of death for a two-year-old girl who died after falling into a tank in Fruitland Park, Florida, in February of this year.
Perhaps you are inclined to place the blame on parents for their failure to pay attention to their children’s needs.
During the month of June 2014, a youngster from Arizona died after falling into an open sewage system.
In July 2014, a four-year-old child was playing ball with a family member when she slipped into a septic tank.
If there were no witnesses to her disappearance, there would be no evidence of her whereabouts.
SAFETY HAZARDS
In these terrible examples, the most common safety issues associated with septic tank injuries and fatalities are found, and they are as follows:
- Septic tank covers that are not safe
- Septic tank covers that have been relocated and left unattended for an extended period of time
- Septic tanks that have been improperly abandoned
- Using incorrect septic tank maintenance practices
In the case of Skagit County, the small youngster was discovered after a police officer stumbled upon a septic lid that seemed to be a little out of place. In other instances, it has been claimed that the cover has been knocked off by trucks driving over it. During a March 2012 incident in Lakewood, New Jersey, a little girl perished after falling into a sewage tank in her backyard. “Search crews discovered a 3-foot-wide hole in the yard that led to a septic tank, and the Public Works Department was summoned to pump water from the tank,” according to reports.
- Septic tank lids that have been purposefully removed, those that have been damaged by traffic (trucks, lawnmowers, etc.), and those that have grown weak due to natural deterioration are all signs of impending doom.
- All of these things pose potential dangers to inquisitive toddlers.
- In June of 2014, a three-year-old child was injured after she fell into a 15-foot-deep hole that was formerly the site of an abandoned septic tank.
- While the stories are filled with sadness and the details are horrible, there is a way to avoid these tragedies.
Property owners may learn from the mistakes of the past and avoid similar mistakes in the future. Being vigilant and ensuring the following factors are in place would help to prevent such accidents:
TIMELY INSPECTIONS
While a septic tank has to be pumped every two to three years, a professional check once a year can detect symptoms of deterioration and potential problems before they become serious.
TANK COVER STABILITY
Property owners should also inspect their septic lids for signs of wear that might result in them being cracked or weakened.
SEPTIC LID PLACEMENT
Weekly visual inspections of the tank lid identify concerns such as tanks that are completely or partially exposed.
ADDRESSING UNUSED SYSTEMS
The tank should be filled with caution if a septic system has been abandoned without being properly maintained. The property owner is solely responsible for the upkeep of the septic system on his or her land. Visual diligence, scheduling inspections, and resolving any problems as soon as they arise all contribute to increased safety. Preventing damage and even death in curious or just overly active toddlers can be accomplished by following the guidelines outlined above, which are simple to implement.
Acknowledging the reality of these safety issues and informing homeowners and other property owners about them is helpful.
Please pass it on.
11-month-old falls in septic tank while outside with kids and dies, Alabama cops say
According to authorities, a sheriff’s office is investigating after a little boy died after falling into a septic tank, according to reports. Stock photos courtesy of Getty Images and Istockphoto According to authorities in Alabama, an 11-month-old child was playing outside with other children when he slipped into a septic tank. Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade confirmed to AL.com that the youngster died as a result of the “tragic event” that transpired on Wednesday night. At around 7 p.m., officials claimed the infant was among other youngsters as his father was assisting someone with a nearby automobile.
- According to the sheriff’s office, the father realized he hadn’t seen his son and began looking for him.
- Deputies said that he administered CPR to the infant before first responders arrived on the site.
- The reason of death of the 11-month-old child was not disclosed by the media.
- “It looks to be a terrible accident,” according to Wade, who spoke to AL.com.
- He told news organizations that the septic tank was protected by a plastic cover that was not secure.
As a reporter for The NewsObserver, Simone Jasper reports on breaking news stories as well as on real-time news in the Carolinas.
Two-year-old boy falls into Pierce Co. septic tank, saved by mother and sister
He was saved and resuscitated by his mother and sister after plunging 10 feet into an abandoned septic tank on his grandparents’ home in Edgewood on Tuesday. The youngster was from Buckley and was two years old. Thorin Hess was injured after he walked on a septic access port cover that was not securely fastened, according to his grandfather, Wayne Nolan, who promptly hired workmen to install a new lid. According to Nolan, “His mother immediately dived into the tank after him.” “She slid down the hole into the pit.” In an interview with KIRO-7, Marcia Hess described how she was able to pull her son out of the sewage in the partially filled tank and hand him over to Nolan and Madi, the boy’s 12-year-old sister.
East Pierce County Fire & Rescue told KIRO-7 that the girl began performing chest compressions on the kid, which allowed him to breathe until paramedics arrived on the scene.
In 2015, a two-year-old toddler perished after falling through a loose cover into a sewage tank in Burlington, Massachusetts.
“(My grandson) is such a handsome young man.” You may learn more about 9-1-1 tips and how to educate your children to dial 9-1-1 by visiting this page.
- WATCH: After accepting the challenge, the Seattle Police Department released a full lip sync video. After a conditioning session, a student-athlete from Federal Way High School passed away. For the son of a fallen Washington police officer, patches from the department are sought. Detectives: The Hood Canal random shooter was also sought for murder, according to the police. It’s possible that a massive fire at a Kent strip mall was started deliberately
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Settlement reached in septic tank death
- Amari Harley would have been five years old on Wednesday. According to Jacksonville police, he was just three years old when he died after falling into a septic tank in a public park in Arlington on October 22, 2017. According to the family’s attorney, a settlement has been reached in a case filed against the contractor responsible for the septic service in Bruce Park, where the incident occurred, and more legal action against the city is being prepared in the coming months. The amount of the settlement against ERS Inc. (Environmental Remediation Services), the septic service business that maintained the sewage system at Bruce Park’s toilets on Arlington Road, was not disclosed by attorney Kay Harper Williams, who declined to comment. Amari’s mother, Jasmine Bates, declined to comment on her daughter’s situation. When the Times-Union called the ERS’s local office on Friday, no one was available to comment. According to court documents, a settlement with the corporation was made in December, while the lawsuit against a second company was officially dismissed. “We were able to come to an agreement with ERS, which was one of the city’s contractors. We were unable to proceed with A1 Septic because we did not have sufficient information “Williams expressed himself. “We have reached a settlement in the original complaint, and we intend to file a new claim against the city in connection with the unnecessary death. His family would have agreed, and they were actively involved in the decision-making process. There is yet one more case on the way.” According to postmortem reports, Amari died as a consequence of hypoxia caused by breathing septic tank contents after slipping through the cover of an underground sewage system tank at the park. According to authorities, the youngster was attending a birthday celebration with his family in a packed park when he went missing, according to reports. In the end, authorities opted to drain the septic tank next to the park’s restroom, where they discovered his corpse after hours of searching. As stated in the medical examiner’s report, the child’s lungs had been “lined with dark fluid and debris.” It is still unclear whether or not the septic tank lid was closed when he was trapped within it. Although the city received a complaint in January regarding a “uncovered hole” at one of Bruce Park’s tanks, the problem was reported addressed the next day, according to the city. Another fault was discovered during a normal monthly inspection on February 13, which resulted in the lid being re-secured. Mayor Lenny Curry launched an investigation into safety and security procedures at hundreds of city parks as a result of the disaster, and he requested that all septic tank lids at 76 of the parks that had underground tanks be standardized. There had been reports of a thick rubber-like substance used to cover the tank in Bruce Park, and Florida Department of Health standards required that it be affixed in a fashion that was “vandal, tamper, and kid resistant.” According to court documents, Williams filed an amended lawsuit on Nov. 12 in which she named Amari’s mother as the child’s agent and sought damages in excess of $15,000 from ERS as well as a local septic service firm and the city of Jacksonville. The complaint accused ERS of carelessness, claiming that the company had a responsibility to examine, maintain, and service all of the septic systems in the city’s public spaces, including the one next to the facilities at Bruce Park, which had not been done. According to the lawsuit, the firm did not have any “registered septic tank contractors or state-licensed plumbers” on its payroll at the time of the child’s death, as required by state law. According to the lawsuit, it also lacked a certificate of permission to provide septic tank contracting services to the general public, which was needed by law at the time. According to the complaint, “the subject premises’ unprotected septic tank constituted an open pit” under Florida law since it was not properly maintained. It went on to say that ERS was legally obligated to “properly inspect, maintain, repair, and service” the sewage system at the park, which included septic tanks, lids, risers, and any other item that was utilized there. In addition, the complaint claims that the company should have made them tamper- and child-resistant. According to the complaint, ERS failed to notify the potentially hazardous and improper state of the septic tank covers on the property until it was too late. In the complaint, it is claimed that Amari Harley perished after falling into the septic tank as a consequence of the carelessness of defendant Environmental Resources Services (ERS). A predictable effect of defendant ERS’s carelessness was Amari Harley’s death, according to the court. According to Williams, ERS has decided not to appeal the decision. Dan Scanlan may be reached at (904) 359-4549.
Neighbours help family of boy who died after falling in septic tank
In the Alberta town of Priddis, residents are banding together to assist the family of a little child who died after slipping into a septic tank on Thursday. Aaden Blackburn, a two-year-old boy, has been recognized as the victim by members of the community. First responders were dispatched to a property at the intersection of Highway 22X and Priddis Valley Road, west of Calgary, just before 1 p.m. He was extricated from the tank and transported by STARS Air Ambulance to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, where he later died.
- According to Ed Osborne, president of the Priddis Town Association, the incident has been “an utter disaster for the community.” “A large number of the younger families are acquainted with those participating.
- Aaden Blackburn, two years old, was recognized by members of the community as the youngster who died after slipping into a septic tank in Priddis, Alberta, last week.
- Osborne stated that the boy’s parents were considering enrolling Aaden in preschool in the autumn of this year.
- Stories That Are Currently Trending A rather busy sports program is available here, and the family is actively involved in it.
- “The parents in both the school and hockey communities will very definitely recognize them and will be prepared to lend a help if asked,” Osborne added.
- At this moment, people of the community are allowing the Blackburn family the space and solitude they need to grieve.
- “As a parent, this is going to be really tough to cope with, therefore we will be there for them as friends and supporters,” says the author.
- Having children brings up a variety of events.
- “All you can hope is that it doesn’t happen to your children.” An inquiry is currently ongoing to establish how the little child was able to get access to the subterranean storage tank.
- In Calgary, a funeral service is scheduled on Tuesday.
Gifts in memory of the deceased should be donated to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, according to the family. Global News, a part of Corus Entertainment Inc., is a registered trademark.
2-year-old boy saved by mother and sister after falling 10 feet into a septic tank
Pierce County is located in the state of Washington. According to KIRO-TV, a youngster in Washington state was saved by his quick-thinking mother and sister after he slipped into a septic tank and became trapped. Thorin Hess, two years old, was on the verge of drowning in several feet of raw sewage when his 12-year-old sister noticed him slide through a loose cover into his grandparents’ septic tank and into the filth. Thorin had been entirely immersed in sewage for a long time. His mother, in a state of panic, grabbed this shovel in an attempt to reach him.
- “So I had to grasp his foot, but his shoe, of course, slid off in the process.
- “I could see him dying, and so I simply cried out to God, pleading with him to please save his life.
- Marcia began attempting to squeeze her body through the tight opening in order to locate her kid.
- Initially, doctors were concerned that Thorin would be infected as a result of breathing and ingesting sewage, but they now believe he is in good health.
Arlington playground named after boy who drowned in a septic tank
Amari Harley, a young girl who drowned in a sewage tank in Arlington, will have a new playground dedicated in her honor. It would have been his seventh birthday the following day. THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Amari Harley, the young boy who drowned four years ago after falling into a sewage tank, will be commemorated with the naming of a new playground in Arlington, Virginia. Amari was three years old when his body was discovered inside an unlocked sewage tank when his family and friends were visiting Bruce Park for a birthday party.
- More than a year after Amari’s death, his mother filed a lawsuit against the city and two contractors who were in responsible of keeping the tanks in good condition.
- In 2019, the city struck an agreement with the Harley family about the settlement.
- Five months later, the city spent $837,525 to repair the lids and ensure that they were safe to use once again.
- A further investigation by the News4Jax I-TEAM revealed that the exact tank where Amari died had been the subject of two earlier complaints to the city of Jacksonville.
- The dedication ceremony for the Amari Harley Playground, which was originally slated for Friday, has been rescheduled for 1:30 p.m.
- 26 at Bruce Park, 6549 Arlington Road in Arlington.
In addition to family members, the director of parks for the city of Jacksonville and at least two members of the Jacksonville City Council will be in attendance. His seventh birthday would have been this past Saturday. WJXT News4Jax retains ownership of Copyright 2021 and reserves all rights.
About the Author:
A multi-media journalist with a particular interest in problems relating to Georgia.
JSO report: Septic tank lid where boy drowned not secured, childproofed
THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, Fla. According to an investigation report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the lid to an underground city sewage tank where a 3-year-old kid drowned last October was not properly fastened on the day he slipped in. The study, which is more than 340 pages long and includes gory photographs, also said that a childproof screw should have been put on the lid, but that this was not the case in this particular instance. Following the investigation since Amari Harley went missing on October 22 at Bruce Park in Arlington, Virginia, where he was enjoying a birthday party with his family, the I-TEAM has been working to find him.
- His family discovered he was missing less than an hour after he went missing when it began to rain and everyone ran for cover in the storm.
- According to the report, the rain stopped after about 10 minutes and the family looked for nearly a half-hour around the park before phoning the authorities for assistance.
- One of the lids had a handle that had been pushed up, and the officer discovered that neither lid was securely fastened to the tanks.
- It wasn’t long before they discovered Amari’s body.
- The Medical Examiner determined that Amari died as a result of an accidental drowning.
- During the course of its inquiry into how Amari was able to fall into the tank, JSO discovered that a third occurrence had been discovered by a guy who was inspecting the park’s tanks on behalf of a contracting company.
- Investigators questioned Kuhn about the text on the green lid, which indicated the requirement for a “childproof screw,” which Kuhn confirmed.
According to the investigation, he confessed that no such screw had been used and that he had no recollection of ever taking any precautions to ensure that the lid was childproof.
In a statement, Kay Harper Williams, the family’s attorney, stated that the lid had been reported as being insecure six times over the course of a year.
“For roughly $1,200, the city could have rescued Amari Harley,” Williams said.
Gross negligence is defined as the multiple opportunities to correct a clear and apparent error, or to avoid a clear and obvious risk, that were passed up “Amari’s family and friends declined to comment on the findings of the JSO investigation.
No response was received.
To far, 193 covers across the city have been replaced with strong, iron lids that are fastened into place, including the lids that were used to cover the graves of Amari and other victims.
“Those covers are going to be on any septic tank,” says the expert.
“I believe that everything that has been done is too little, too late,” Williams remarked.
On Monday morning, it seemed as though the job was being completed.
Inspections are now carried out in-house rather than by outside contractors as was previously the case.
Additionally, Williams stated to News4Jax on Monday that she intends to question the State Attorney about why no criminal charges have been filed against those responsible for Amari’s death to yet. WJXT News4Jax retains ownership of the copyright and reserves all rights.
Accidental Falls Into Septic Tanks Are More Common Than You May Think
Our entire community has come together in support of the missing 5-year-old kid from Pulaski, sending thoughts and prayers his way. Mr. Noah Thomas, who went missing early on Sunday morning and remained gone for five agonizing days before his body was discovered in a septic tank on the same land as his home, was identified as the victim. Noah’s disappearance has sparked widespread speculation on social media about what happened to him. Some believe it was an accident, while others believe it was a result of foul play.
- The missing 5-year-old kid from Pulaski has brought our entire community together in thoughts and prayers. In the early hours of last Sunday, Noah Thomas vanished, and he remained gone for five agonizing days until his body was discovered in a septic tank on the same land as his house. Noah’s disappearance has sparked much speculation on social media about what occurred. While some claim that it was an accidental shooting, others believe that it was intentional. The following are examples of children and adults who have died after accidently falling into septic tanks, according to my brief search:
- On July 13, 2014, a 4-year-old New Jersey girl lost her way after stepping on a septic tank lid while chasing a ball. She has not been seen since. When family members saw what was happening, they raced to the septic tank’s opening, where they discovered the toddler swimming in the sludge. Fortunately, the girl’s uncle was able to reach out and grasp her hand, pulling her to safety. Witnesses said that after the girl fell in, the lid “flipped” and returned to its original position. Fortunately, she sustained no injuries
- In June of 2014, a 7-year-old kid died after falling into an open tank in Arizona. Friends witnessed the incident and attempted to save the youngster, but the boy was unable to be saved. An further 5 year old kid died in a septic tank in June of 2014, according to claims that the lid “broke way” as she stepped on it.
- 77-year-old guy plunges into sewage tank in the middle of the night on December 24, 2007. Fortunately, his legs were still visible above ground despite the fact that his head was entirely submerged within the tank. His wife saw his legs an hour after he had fallen and immediately dialed 911. During a game of catch with his brothers in their own backyard on June 16, 2007, a two-year-old kid slipped into an unlined sewage tank. He was inside with his mother, who was caring to a baby, when his brothers and sisters barged in, shrieking about their brother who had fallen into the “black hole.” The kid’s father leapt into the tank, discovered the boy, and lifted him back through the entrance, feet first, into the opening. Three-year-old kid’s body was discovered in a septic tank on Sunday, January 28th, 2007. The boy had suffered from lung disease and pneumonia before his death. He’d been missing for two days when we found him. Following the boy’s accidental fall into the tank, investigators think that the lid simply flipped over and flipped back into place.
You may reach out to Wrongful Death Attorney Paul Thomson immediately for a free case review if you have lost a loved one as a result of the carelessness of someone else. An intake specialist is available to assist you at all times. The number is (540) 777-4900. Listed under the category of Wrongful Death.
Family is Awarded $21 Million Plus After Toddler Drowns in Septic Tank
Property owners have an obligation to ensure that their properties are safe, as illustrated by the tragic instance of a youngster who drowned in a septic tank of a newly constructed duplex apartment building. Trial magazine published an article on the case of a 3-year-old boy who was playing in his garden when he tripped on the lid of a septic tank and was seriously injured. As a result of the fact that it was not properly fastened and was chipped, the toddler fell into an 8-foot-deep septic tank.
In a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Bristol, Massachusetts, the boy’s parents accused the property owner of failing to maintain the septic system’s cracked and unsecured lid, which they said constituted a safety danger.
Besides suing the duplex’s owner, they also sued the firms who were responsible for its installation, inspection, and pumping, as well as the home inspection company that performed an examination on the duplex.
Before the trial, the plaintiffs struck a settlement with all of the defendants save the home inspection firm for a total of around $5 million dollars.
Michael R.
Sadly, the deaths of children in septic tanks are not as rare as we may think.
When it comes to their lands, landowners and property owners should be mindful of elements that might pose a danger to children, even if those children happen to be trespassing.
They should be walled in and have lockable gates to prevent youngsters from falling in and becoming drowned.
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one, you should get legal advice from an experienced Virginia Beach wrongful death attorney.
Please contact us at (757) 455-0077 for a no-obligation consultation.
